Get ready to shape up your summer wardrobe with some sustainable swimwear. These Australian brands are opting for ethical production and sustainable fabrics such as recycled nylon to create their quality swimmers. Whether you’re looking for a one-piece, bikini, rashie, board shorts or even surfwear, these brands have your sustainable swimwear covered.
Why recycled fabrics?
Because swimwear requires stretch and quick dry qualities, synthetic fabrics have historically been the go-to for these garments. As awareness around plastic production and pollution and especially shedding of microfibres from synthetic fabrics has increased, brands have been looking to more sustainable fabrics for their swimwear. We’ve since seen the creation of recycled nylon and polyester, and fabric manufacturers are going as far as salvaging ocean waste to repurpose into these recycled fabrics. It’s a great solution for reducing waste and the resources required for otherwise virgin fabrics. However, it’s worth nothing that it’s not a perfect solution as far as fashion waste goes, but it’s a start and one of the best options we have in the industry so far. You can help reduce the impact of your swimwear even further by washing your garments in a microfibre wash bag and taking good care of them to extend their life.
1. Salt Gypsy
What do you get when you cross one of Australia’s best surfing towns with a slow-living and sustainable mindset? Sustainable surfwear of course. Salt Gypsy makes women’s surfwear from 100% regenerated nylon yarn called ECONYL® which is a long-lasting, durable recycled nylon lycra that is responsibly manufactured here in Australia. All of its practical pieces are ethically made on the Gold Coast.
2. Waverley Swim
Waverley Swim brings inclusive and adaptable swimwear to the list – thoughtfully created by the founder of the sustainable and style magazine, Peppermint. The debut design for the brand is the Waverley Wrashie® – an Australian-made swim top that has stylish, sustainable sun safety all wrapped up! The swim tops are available in an inclusive size range from 6-24, and are produced in Australia from recycled fishing nets and discarded carpets.
4. LÉ BUNS
Got buns, hon? Then Le Buns has you covered. The brand’s swim collection is produced with the use of reconstructed recycled fibres such as discarded fishing nets, saving them from otherwise polluting oceans and endangering wildlife. So you can have a little happy dance while you’re swimming in the ocean knowing you’ve saved a few animals with your swimmers. Le Buns says it has complete transparency in its supply chain and the team visits factories often to ensure compliancy with safe working conditions and fair pay.
4. Shapes in the Sand
Shapes in the Sand’s swimwear is range of bikinis and one pieces in nature-inspired designs. As an ‘eco conscious’ swimwear label, Shapes in the Sand uses regenerated fabrics from recycled materials in its swimwear which is all handmade in Australia. The brand teams up with not-for-profit organisations and individuals to help create positive change for the environment and its inhabitants – include helping fund organised beach clean ups for our oceans as well as care facilities for Australian native wildlife.
5. Camp Cove
Camp Cove Swim launched in October 2013 by Katherine Hampton, with the first collection being completely sewn by the designer’s mum. The 70s-inspired swimwear label has since grown but is still made locally, with the collection including pretty one-pieces, singles, rashies and board shorts. Camp Cove’s swimwear is ethically made in NSW, with the fabric printing happening in Sydney and the production in Jervis Bay.
6. Obus Clothing
Melbourne-based fashion label Obus Clothing drops a sweet swimwear collection each summer. All of its swimwear is ethically manufactured in Sydney using a blend of upcycled polyester and lycra to ensure extra longevity in the life of the elastine so your swimwear will continue to fit and flatter for many seasons despite contact with chlorinated or salt water. The swimwear features prints from the current collection.
7. Nisa
New Zealand-based label Nisa has launched a new range of environmentally-conscious swimwear for you to rock this summer. The collection is designed for all ages and body shapes, and features three one pieces, two bikinis and one rash top – ranging from sizes XS to 2XL. The classic swimwear range is made from a fabric that uses regenerated nylon yarn, derived from post-industrial and post-consumer waste. Nisa’s Swim 2023 range is made in small batches and only re-made when those batches sell out, further helping to minimise waste and manage production. The whole collection is sewn at the Nisa workshop which is located in downtown Wellington, New Zealand.
8. Active Truth
Brisbane-based brand Active Truth first built its foundations of inclusive sizing and designs in its activewear. Now, much to the excitement of the brand’s cult following, it has recently added a sustainable swimwear range, similarly optimised for your workout and available in an inclusive size range of small – 3XL (equivalent of AU sizes 8 – 26). In an effort to maintain performance and reduce the brand’s environmental impact, the new swimwear range features a recycled nylon made from discarded fishing nets, assembled in Australia like much of the brand’s quality activewear. Check out our review of the new swim range here.
9. Seagrass Designs
Print-centric Tassie-based brand Seagrass Designs has added Aussie made swimwear to its range, just in time for summer. The swim range follows suit with the brand’s approach to fun, flora and fauna inspired patterns in bright colour ways. The range include bikini tops, tankinis, bottoms and board shorts. All garments are designed and made in Tasmania, and fabrics are printed in Queensland using recycled polyester.
10. Charlie Mae
Sydney-based brand Charlie Mae creates high quality sustainable swimwear, defined by flattering cuts and a love of comfort. For its eco-friendly swimwear, the brand uses Vita PL – a revolutionary recycled fabric made from recycled fishing nets and ocean waste. Charlie Mae swimwear is ethically made in Hong Kong where the brand says they work with a small factory and staff are paid over award wage. The brand also supports causes close to its team’s hearts – with 5% of each sale going to animal welfare charities.
11. Baiia
Baiia has created the ‘world’s first’ three piece swimsuit that is adjustable to suit your shape. The brand uses quality recycled synthetic fabric constructed in Italy from post-consumer waste, using a process that takes 90% less water to create than virgin polyester. Baiia is committed to paying well above the minimum wage to its employees in China and offers other benefits like paid sick leave, annual leave and more. Find out more here.
12. Shade Swim
Sun safety and style – that was the focus of the Brisbane-based designer who started the sustainable swimwear label Shade Swim. After struggling to find a fashionable one-piece that was sun safe, Alyshia Morris decided she would make one herself. The Shade Swim are ethically made in Australia and the fabrics feature at least 80% recycled nylon.
